Tell Me Something Tuesday

It is Tuesday! Time for another rousing edition of the meme hosted by Cambria Hebert.

Every week a new question to answer on your blog. Add your link to Cambria's site and then check out the other responses. I love this meme. If you want to participate (you really should) head over to Cambria's blog and grab next week's question. 

Now this week's question: 

How do you feel about love triangles?

 

If you read my reviews you will know that I am not a big fan of love triangles.  In fact, it has gotten to the point where the prevalence of this sticky, three sided love affair has become so trite and worn out, that I find myself loathing them. Unless they are well written, I usually will lower my rating.  

Now, in the beginning I didn't mind the occurrence of a love issue involving three parties.  I was interested to see how they would resolve.  I think one issue I have with the triangle is that I am always rooting for the underdog, for instance: Twilight, I am in Jacob's corner the entire way...Iron Fey: Puck, how can you not love Puck! These are just two examples, but inevitably I am always drawn to the guy who ends up getting his heart ripped out. Perhaps, that is why I have developed such an intense distaste for love triangles. 

The biggest reason I disdain them, stems from the complete saturation of the Young Adult genre with the love interests that have a girl and two boys involved in an emotional tug a war. It has gotten to the point where they are so overdone, that I actually look for books with a simple boy meets girl and they fall in love relationship. I don't buy into the whole I am team A or B trend. I know I am in the minority but I just need a break from the three sided disease that infects books today. The only two exceptions I have are The Infernal Device series by Cassandra Clare and Unearthly series by Cynthia Hand.  Both of these ladies write love angles that are so well developed and believable that I actually am interested to see how they develop. Furthermore, the relationships are each so good, that I am remiss to pick who I want to get the lady. 

I guess I am exhausted to the point that I am beyond enjoying the whole love triangle scene until someone finds a way to breath some fresh life into an old idea.  How about a book with two girls and a boy caught in the three sided tangle for a change? 

There you have it! My ramblings on love triangles. How do you feel about them? Tell Me!  Please check out the guest post and giveaway from author Cameo Renae.

 

Comments

[Maja]

I figured I'll do better by rambling on your thread instead of creating my own. I would probably write the exact same thing. There's no such thing as a good love triangle in my opinion. The only one I can tolerate, because it makes sense and is critical for the plot, is Diana Rowland's in her urban fantasy series. I didn't even read Hallowed because people kept saying that the love triangle becomes more pronounced.

Thing is, a few times that I did get emotionally involved, I was always siding with the 'main guy', so even though I loved Jacob, Puck and Adrian, I was definitely on Edward's, Ash's and Dimitri's side. (Especially Dimitri's - HIM I have this HUGE crush on.)

Great post, Heidi! It's always good to talk about these things. I just wish more authors would listen.

[Carly @Fiction Fascination]

I am actually on the fence, I think I love to hate them. But they are becoming a regular occurrence in YA books these days, which takes all the fun out of it I guess. Great post, Heidi. I always end up rooting for the underdog too, Team Jacob lol ;)

[kindlemom1]

I would say I am on the fence as well, I have a love hate relationship with them by far.
Great post and good points Heidi!

[Sam]

Poor Puck. :( As much as I adored Ash I still wanted Puck to get the happier ending! I think though, most of the time, I don't prefer the underdog. Even though it is obvious the main character will end up with the guy I prefer, I really don't see the point of straying away from the main story to mess with our reactions a little. As you probably already know, I hate love triangles too. They're unnecessary and make me want to puke. if triangles weren't bad enough, SOME authors like to torture us with love-SQUARES!

[rainydayramblings]

@ Maja I need to read Diane Rowland's series. I would love to see your idea of a good triangle. Hallowed, I admit I was heaitant too because I kept hearing about the love triangle, but I will say in this case that the love triangle is introduced for a valid reason.
@Yes Carly and Ali, I used to like them but I fell off the fence awhile back.
@Yes Sam I am glad you agree. Love squares, well right now I don't hate them as much but the jury is still out!

[Jenny]

I'm extremely tired of love triangles as well, I can't even remember the last YA book I read where there was just a single love interest and the story revolved around the two of them without a third party to muddy the waters. Sometimes, like with Unearthly, I think the love triangle can be really well done and add to the overall story, but just the sheer volume of love triangles in YA literature is getting to be a bit much:(

[The Bookish Brunette]

See I can handle love triangles if they are done WELL... Sadly this is rarely the case and they are SO over done that it's become absolutely ridiculous!!!!

[Alexandra Lanc]

Good post! I agree completely, and I really don't like love triangles for the most part (there are, as you said, a few good ones).

My post: http://wordsoftheworlds.blogspot.com/2012/02/teaser-and-tell-me-something-tuesday_21.html

Alexandra~

[Jay Noel]

Yes. Sick of love triangles. I think it's time for other polygons to get involved. How about a love octagon???

Love triangles are popular with the YA crowd because many girls (and grown adult ladies) fantasize about having two hot, powerful dudes fighting over them.

A book with two girls fighting over a boy is tough to sell to this crowd...and that's not much of an escape (fantasy) for this genre's readers.

[VeganYANerds]

Yes! I made mention of how happy I was that there was no love triangle in my most recent review, it was such a nice change! Not all girls are going to be in love two boys at the same time and it's great when some authors don't include one in their book!

[Missie, The Unread Reader]

Aaaah! Yes! LTs have definitely worn out their welcome. And since the majority of them take place in YA series, I find myself turning towards YA contemporary just to avoid them.

[Mimi Valentine]

LOL love triangles -- they're really the biggest controversy of YA right now, aren't they? x) For me, I don't really mind a love triangle as long as it's done RIGHT. The two examples I can think of right now are the ones you mentioned in your post: The Unearthly series and The Infernal Devices series! The ones that literally tear your heart in half... those are the ones I love most! ;)

(It makes me smile so much that you loved both underdogs in Twilight and The Iron Fey series too -- they were both the funny boys over the serious-sweet ones! <3)

Awesome post, Heidi! Tuesday discussions are always so much fun! :)

[Candace]

I usually don't like love triangles but it seems there are quite a few cases where they do work. It's annoying when the other guy is just there for the girl to use to make the OTHER guy jealous though. Or when they feel they aren't worthy of the first guy. I don't usually fall for the underdog but I gotta say that Puck deserves a HEA.

[rainydayramblings]

Thank you to each and everyone of you who weighed in on this hot topic. The overwhelmingly majority feels that love triangles are becoming a dreaded phenomenon. I loved hearing ALL your opinions. I am glad I am not the only one who feels strongly for Puck. I love the lively dialogue on Tuesdays! Thanks everyone!

[roro @roro is reading[rogier]]

sick of triangles but i'm amazed when i loving one// heavenly trilogy

[rainydayramblings]

Roro I need to look into the Heavenly trilogy then. Thanks for the recommend!

[Natshane (Natasha Anne)]

It is an endless emotional tug of war! However I normally fall for the 'right' guy. Yet, I hate to see any party get hurt and sometimes it just ruined a book. Great ramble Heidi :D

[FABR Steph]

There are times that I feel like the romance lines are so much the same that they are no longer enjoyable. If it isn't a romance book but has a a good story line, I can enjoy the read despite the love triangle.
I keep meaning to jump on this meme.
-FABR Steph@FiveAlarmBookReviews

[Cambria]

What a great post! And the discussion to follow it here is fantastic as well! Pove to hear evryones thoughts on this and it seems a lot if us agree!! Woot woot! Someday there will be a freash twist on the love triangle and when that comes we will all be ready!! :)

[Fictitious Musings]

I have a love/hate relationship with love triangles these days. It feels as though every story has one and the overall experience is so similar. If given a choice between love triangles and insta-love...love triangles definitely win. I'm waiting for an author to turn love triangles upside down. (Sighs)

[rainydayramblings]

@Natausha I know I hate seeing the guy I like get his heart torn out, it does kind of ruin the book.
@Steph I really hope you do join. I get the best comments on Tuesdays!
@Cambria, I love the lively discussions that I get on the blog on Tuesdays!
@Natalie, I agree someone needs to breath some fresh life into the triangles, I think the majority has spoken loud and clear, we are tired of them!

[Sarah S]

Love triangles has become one of my big pet peeves in reading YA novels, they're almost second nature now. Unless they're done well I often end up getting frustrated by the characters . I have a habit of always rooting for the underdog as well, I can't help it! I'll agree that the Unearthly series does the love triange well :)
Glad to see someone else shares my opinions on this!

[rainydayramblings]

Hi Sarah, So nice of you to weigh in. Yes, I like Unearthly I think because there is a valid reason for introducing the love triangle. You are certainly not alone on triangles being a pet peeve. Thanks so much for commenting :)